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]]>Lake Champlain is vast. Well not like Lake Baikal in Siberia or Lake Superior along the US-Canadian border, but large enough to provide outdoor activities for all levels of outdoor enthusiasts.

If you are more interested in the resort feel of the Adirondacks then come north on I-87, eventually peeling off on highway 9N at Lake George. There are several vacation resort towns along both Lake George and Lake Champlain as you head north, boasting innumerable bed and breakfasts as you wend your way lakeside. It is tempting to float westward into the heart of the Adirondacks along 9N (if you have two extra days then do it), but instead get onto highway 22 at Westport and continue along the lake, peeling off on highway 9. View the Ausable Chasm (quite impressive) and then head to the ferry at Port Kent.

Burlington Bike Trail CausewayPortKent Ferry

After depositing the proverbial arm and leg at the ticket booth, ride the ferry across to Burlington. If you’ve never experienced the New England college-tourist town hybrid, then you are in for a treat. You can literally spend two days in town, there are so many fun and quirky things to do. Rent a bike and head north along the trail that eventually leads you onto the causeway that has you literally pedaling in the middle of Lake Champlain. You can also head east, via auto, to both Camels Hump (south of I-89) or Mount Mansfield (north of I-89) for some good day hiking and great views of Lake Champlain. If you want a great view but want to drive to the peak then head up to Mt Philo, south along highway 7. Also along highway 7 is the secluded and very homey Willow Pond Farm Bed and Breakfast. Any time of year is great to experience this wonderful area.

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]]>Receiving its name from the practice of running goods to and from Canada, most notably alcohol during the 1920s, Smugglers Notch is a much more civilized and well-travelled area these days. Get there by taking highway 108 from either highway 15 in the north or highway 100 in the south.
Smugglers Notch Grasp

Take Toll Road off of highway 108 and follow it up the slopes until you reach the Long Trail access. There is a decent sized parking area here with restrooms. Follow the Long Trail to the top of Mount Mansfield for some beautiful views and typical Vermont granite rock and northern forest contrasts. In some spots the trees literally cling to boulders and rock faces in an elemental struggle for supremacy.

Once you reach the mountain, forego the Long Trail as it loops through the ski resorts and neighborhoods in the area, and strike out on the Sunset Ridge Trail. This takes you through some more of the same beautiful scenery and ends at Browns River (dried up in the summer) and the CCC road. Turn around and trudge back up to the mountain and then to the car for a brisk, but relatively easy 4 mile total. Be sure and drive the length of highway 108 as the scenery is no less spectacular from your car. Maybe when you’re done head down to Waterbury and treat yourself to some Ben and Jerry’s at their home factory.

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]]>For a surreal experience, head to Chasteen Creek in June. This entire area is noted for its firefly population that explodes in early summer. However, I saw the biggest concentration along Chasteen Creek. Sit outside in the middle of the night and watch the woods literally light up—it feels as if you were suddenly thrust into the middle of the Milky Way in all its scattered brilliance.
Day1 – Chasteen Creek

Start out on Bradley Fork from the Smokemont campground, due north of Cherokee. The path here is an old logging road, wide with a very slight incline. The first mile of the trail is spent walking alongside the eponymous river. The Chasteen Creek trail is to your right and after a more brisk trek uphill, you will reach campsite 48. This is a great place to spend the night. Even in summer it is relatively empty and this is the ideal place to view the fireflies.

The next day consider making a loop of Hughes Ridge trail, Taywa Creek trail and Bradley Fork trail. If you have an extra night, pop up to the Cabin Flats trail with its quaint wooden bridges and gorgeous campsite at the end of this one way trail. Expect typical Smoky Mountain foliage throughout the hike with birch, maple, tulip poplar, hemlock, and beech trees abounding. It is hard not to have an enjoyable hike in the Smokies and this loop is no exception.

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]]>One can easily spend a week in the Lake Winnipesaukee region. First of all, let me suggest motorcycles as your primary means of transport. They are ubiquitous in the region, the winding roads are conducive to their use, and they are available for rent at several location in Manchester, NH. Regardless of your mode of transportation, there are a multitude of day hikes surrounding the lake in all directions.
Lake Winnipesauke

Mount Major is a popular peak at the south end of the lake, easily accessible from highway 11 and a relatively easy trail to navigate as it primarily runs on old logging roads. The views from the top are spectacular and you fall foliage lovers will not be disappointed with an October hike. Also head along highway 117 to reach the Ossipee Mountains and views of the lake from the northeast. Take the Bald Knob trail and achieve ever grander views from Bald Knob, Turtleback Mountain and Black Snout Mountain. Beware, however, this is a 12 mile round trip hike with a 2100’ elevation gain—not for the faint of heart.

The next day, reward yourself with a nice day at the beach at any of the many parks along the water, Ellacoya off highway 11 is a personal favorite. Also look into renting a kayak or canoe for paddling the lake, although it is best to stay to some of the narrower fingers as motorboats are allowed on the water and take full advantage of their freedoms.

And, of course, make a circuit of the lake, stopping in all of the small towns to shop and dine. Summer is great, late fall is great, early fall is less crowded and still pleasant, but go any time. Even winter is fun with nearby skiing available.

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]]>Nantahala RiverNolan Creek is absolutely gorgeous in the fall. Of course this can be said of many areas of the Smoky Mountain National Park. Nolan Creek combines an idyllic setting of frolicking stream, thick deciduous canopy and wide curving trail, almost more of a country road than a hiking trail. Considering its nearness to the road and civilization in general this is actually a low traffic area as many visitors head to the end of Lake View Drive and then head directly west from the trailhead to Lake Fontana.
GSMRR Curve

Consider taking a fall trip where you and the family hike the 1.3 miles to Bearpen Creek and set up camp. This is a nice little series of sites, tucked back into a draw that is almost cozy. Set up, have a picnic, play in the creek and then head back into Bryson Springs to catch the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad afternoon train to Nantahala Gorge. It runs pretty much all of October is a delightful ride, despite the rather steep price.

Get dinner or ice cream or both in town and then head back out to the camp site. The next day, depending on the energy level, consider hiking north 4miles to Solola Valley at the next trail branch. You won’t be disappointed.

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]]>The Altamaha River runs for 137 miles from its conception at the confluence of the Oconee and Ocmulgee rivers, to its expiration at the Atlantic Coast.

There are a series of 29 landings along the waterway, loosely maintained by the Altamaha River Partnership. In many ways, you can treat this like a long distance hiking trail in that you can do it all at once or in stages. However, if you are in the area and only have a couple of days then I would recommend starting your journey at Hinson’s Landing (#29).

Day1 – Ocmulgee Great Egret FlightDay1 – Altamaha Rail Bridge

Canoe and kayak rentals abound in the area so finding a watercraft should be no issue. If you start at Hinson’s Landing you will actually be on the Ocmulgee River. Some of the benefits to starting here are the less populated nature of the river, the opportunity to paddle the confluence, where the Altamaha starts, and the chance to see some abandoned rail bridges looming eerily over the river.

The first thing you will probably notice is the abundance of birds on the river. Egrets, herons, and hawks seem to be everywhere. Songbirds chirp away back in the woods lining the river and for brief moments you can imagine yourself paddling down this river back when settlers first made their way into the interior.

Camping is allowed on any of the sandbars, just be smart about it. Heavy rains and rising river levels can make a comfortable night by the fire, quickly turn into a waterlogged campsite. Make sure you have at least two days on the river because on day two you will for sure want to stop at Benton Lee’s Steakhouse, right on the river, for lunch or dinner. Its regionally famous and is the perfect stopping place for a short weekend trip.

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]]>While it is unlikely you will run into Okefenokee Joe, it is very likely that you will see several alligators. It may be unnerving to float by in a canoe not much bigger than some of these giants, but they are studiedly indifferent to your presence, especially if you are there in early spring when they are just emerging from their semi-hibernation. With over 700 square miles of swampland and three separate entrances to the National Wildlife Refuge there are a lot of options for where to go and what to do.
Okefenokee

In a throwback to frontier days when waterways were the cheapest, quickest way to traverse the land, I would recommend making your trip here via canoe, despite the existence of some trails. The East Entrance at the Suwanee Canal Recreation Area is a nice spot to enter as the main park headquarters is here to pay fees and has a nice interpretive center. If you would prefer, you can also catch a guided boat tour from here.

Plan your route carefully. This is one of those places where it is in your best interest to camp at the campsites because a lot of the ground you see is not actually ground but rather layered vegetation. There is something magical about gliding through these quiet waters, cypress trees watching impassively, alligators sliding by, herons and egrets staring piercingly. In early spring this can be a pleasant trip with some beautiful foliage just coming out. If you are feeling truly adventurous, try some swamp water—Okefenokee Joe will be duly impressed at your swampwise.

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]]>Mount Townsend is almost ideally situated on the Northeast corner of the Olympic Mountains. It technically lies within the Buckhorn Wilderness, to the east of the Olympic National Park, standing at a respectable 6250’. Due to its location, on a clear day one can see the San Juans, Mount Baker, Mount Rainier, and if it’s that rare, crisp winter day, even Mt St Helens. Be careful though, the drawback to its location is that it catches all of the wind whipping around the northern edge of the Olympics and even on a relatively calm day can get substantial gusts.
Mt Townsend, Olympic NP, WA

Consider parking at the lower trailhead so that you can walk through some old growth timber and past Sink Lake. The lower elevations of the trek have a wide, easy to follow trail wending through thick fir and hemlock woods along Townsend Creek. Eventually, there is a ribbon waterfall and some more open alpine ground to walk through before reaching a saddle and fork in the trail. Here, the vegetation has thinned to some mountain heather and juniper. The downward fork leads to Silver Lake and is worth a stop after a visit to the summit if you have some extra time and energy.

At this stage you are only about half a mile from the summit and the amazing views mentioned above. One of my favorite landmarks on the way up is a rock that reminds me of the Old Man of the Mountain in Franconia Notch, NH before it collapsed. As I said the views are beautiful, but the wind is not always conducive to lingering at the summit for a bite to eat or jotting down notes in your trail log. Still, definitely worth the climb which, although it is almost 4000’ of elevation gain, it is spread out over 4+ miles and achievable for even inexperienced hikers.

Take Penny Creek Rd off of Highway 101 and follow the signs to the Mount Townsend trail head. Remember to park at the lower trailhead if you have the time.

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]]>Silver lake is a common name for alpine lakes but in this case I am referring to the one near Mount Townsend in the Olympic Mountains in Washington State. It lies in a cirque at the head of the valley that Silver Creek runs down. The lake itself can be reached either from forest road 2860 to the north or FR 2870 to the east.

Silver Lake, Olympic NP, WA Perhaps the best way to approach Silver Lake is from the east as the first 3 miles of the trail is shared with the trail to Mount Townsend. In fact, it is a good idea to start on this trail with no particular desire to go to either destination. Once you climb out of the lower elevations, away from Townsend Creek and thick evergreen stands, you will pass a rather substantial waterfall and eventually reach a col where the trail splits. Take a look around. Good weather, continue up to Mount Townsend for some views of the San Juans, Mount Baker, Mount Rainier, and if it’s that rare, crisp winter day, even Mt St Helens. Cloudy weather, then descend back to the south and Silver Lake.

Silver Lake, Olympic NP, WA

The hike down to Silver Lake is blessedly gradual and once you are down in the valley you will actually climb back up to the cirque where Silver Lake sits, all easy hiking. In the winter, the scenery is particularly gorgeous with the stunted trees covered in snow and the lake frozen over with a layer of billowy white, undisturbed by any prints. Summer is equally appealing though and as most hikers are headed to Mount Townsend, this can be a nice quiet detour for a hiker seeking solitude in the summer.

Assuming an approach from the east take Penny Creek Rd off of Highway 101 and follow the signs to the Mount Townsend trail head. If you have some extra time, park at the lower trailhead and visit Sink Lake on the way up.

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]]>The wilderness paradox stems from the fact that a sizeable population wishes to experience wilderness devoid of the human footprint, and yet when that population travels to the wilderness they see each other, thereby depriving everyone of a pure wilderness experience. There are some hidden gems that few people know about and whose whereabouts are carefully guarded so as to provide a privileged few their wilderness experience. Lake Constance in the Olympic National Park is a destination to experience true wilderness, but for a different reason.

After hiking approximately 4 miles at a slight incline along the Dosewallips Trail, which is really an unimproved road, there is a side trail to the north that states simply “Lake Constance Route, 3400’ climb in 2.0 miles”. For those of you unclear as to what this means, there are three distinct sections to the trail: abnormally steep, ruggedly steep, and vertically steep. The first section is about as straight up as you can go without climbing. The second section still makes you gasp for air as you clamber over boulders and logs but is arguably the most beautiful with its thick fir and cedar canopy, richly colored mosses, and a frolicking Constance Creek. The last section, which is fortunately not exposed, has you literally climbing rock faces, grasping both rocks and roots to make your way up.

To use a colloquial expression, the juice is definitely worth the squeeze. Your reward is a pristine tarn at 4700’ with water so exquisitely blue, that it looks almost unreal. You can circle most of the lake for some amazing pictures and a raised headland juts out into the lake, making a nice spot for a quiet lunch. Been here in the winter and never see a soul, and in the summer the most I’ve ever seen is four people (two couples). The trip down is nearly as hard as the trip up and your quads will scream for days afterwards, but on a clear day there are some awe-inspiring views of the Brothers as you make your way down.

If you want to brave this one then head out on 101, turning west onto Dosewallips Road just north of Brinnon. Follow the road until the washout at about 10 miles and then hike the trail until you see the sign on your right for Lake Constance Route.